Handle switch for floor polishing machines and the like



March 3, 1953 D. A. ARONES 2,630,509 HANDLE SWITCH FOR FLOOR POLISHING MACHINES AND THE LIKE 'Filed-Sept. 20, 1951 INVENTOR. DANIEL A. ARONES ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 3, 1953 accuses HANDLE SWITCH FOR i LOOR POLISHING MACHINES AND THE LIKE Daniel A. Arones, Minneapolis, Minn, assignor to Advance Machine Company, Minneapolis, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Application September 20, 1951, Serial No. 247,513

6 Claims. 1

My invention relates to an improvement in a handle switch for a polishing machine and the like which is simply and effectively actuated when the operator grasps or releases the handle of the machine.

Floor polishing machines are pushed about and over a floor by meansof a handle, and an object of my invention resides in providing an improved form of handle which carries with it a control for the electrical switch controlling the electric motor of the machine.

It is also an object of my invention to provide a transverse flexible spring-urged switch member easily engageable by the hand which extends through the slots of a switch box formed on the handle of the machine. The transverse member is connected to a toggle member of the electrical switch mounted in the box so that when either or both of the handle bars and the transverse switch member are gripped by the operator the electrical switch is turned on, and when the transverse member is released, the electrical switch returns to ofi position It is a further object to form the transverse flexible spring urged switch member of a central spring core member on which is freely mounted a tubular member which can rotate on the core and with the hand as the transverse switch member is progressively grasped together with the handle bar portions thereby affording a natural grip on the handle and switch member. It is also an object to provide a switch whereby the grasping of the switch member is easy and nat ural with the grasping of the handle bars and whereby the switch is in an on position only when the transverse switch member and handle bars are grasped thus providing also a safety handle.

It is an additional object to. provide a handle switch which not only provides natural ease of operation but which is positive in action and simple and economical to manufacture.

The invention will appear more clearly from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, showing by way of example a preferred embodiment of the inventive idea.

In the drawingsforming part of the application:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my handle switch mounted on the upper end of a handle of a floor treating machine.

Figure 2 is a partial transverse sectional view thereof.

Figure 3 is sectional view on the line 3--3 of Figure 2.. i

2 My handle switch A is composed of a housing H) which is enclosed by means of the removable cover plate ll. Formed on the inside of the housing I!) is the shoulder l2 and the lug l3 on which the plate I4 is mounted by means of the bolts l5 and I6 which are threaded externally and internally. The plate l4 has secured thereto the electrical switch H by means of the nuts i8 which are drawn up on the bolt member on both sides of the plate M. The switch H is operated by the toggle member 20 pivotally secured thereto which is in the off positon when it is in the downward position shown in Figures 2 and 3.

Extending from the sides of the housing II! are the shoulders l8 having formed therein the recesses l9 into which are positioned the ends of the bars 20' secured by the bolts 2|. The bars 20' have formed on the outer ends thereof the knob portions 22. A resilient covering 23 is applied to the outer surface of the bars 20' for easy hand engagement.

The transverse flexible switch member 24 is made up of a spring core member 25 which is covered by two sections of the tubular outer member indicated as 26 and 21. The inside diameter of the tubular members 26 and 2:1 is slightly greater than the outside diameter of the spring core member 25 whereby the tubular members 26 and 21 can rotate thereon as the switch actuating member 24 is drawn toward the bars 20' with a progressive encircling gripping action of the operators hands and fingers on the members 26 and 21 toward the bars 20'.

The outer ends 28 of the core member 25 are secured in the knobs 22 so that the core member 25 extends from one knob 22 to the other in a gradually flat arc formation. The knobs 22 have formed on the inner sides thereof the recesses 29 in which the ends 30 of the tubular portions 26 and 21 can rotate as they are gripped by the hands and fingers as set forth above. The placement of the ends 30 in the recesses 29 aids in supporting both the core member 25 and. the tubular members 26 and 21. is

The flexible switch member 24 extends from one knob 22 to the opposite knob through the elongated openings 3| formed in each side of the housing It! and the spring core member 25 is connected to the toggle member 20 at a central break formed in the tubular covering members 26 and 21. The switch member 24 having the spring core member 25 tends to remain against the lower end of the slots 3| of the housing H] and. thus hold the toggle member in an fofi 2,630,509 fji In operating my handle switch the switch member 24 is progressively grasped simultaneously with the handle bar portions 20 and as this is done the core member 25 moves the tog- A gle member 20 upwardly to the fon position as.

the tubular members 26 and 2! move upwardly. in the slots 3| of the housing. Theswitch ll.

remains on as long as the switch member 24 is held toward the handle bar portions When the switch member 24 is released the toggle 20 is forced to a downward ofi.position-.through .4 said housing adjacent said openings, said handle means having recesses formed in the ends thereof, a transverse spring core member secured on each end to the outer free ends of said handle means and into said recesses, said core member also secured centrally thereof to said toggle member and extending. through said openings of said housing and outwardly of the same, tubular members rotatable on said core member on each side of said toggle and freely and rotatably extending into said recesses to aid in supporting said core member, and spring means connected to said core member and said housing to normally' hold said core-member spaced from said handle means: and maintain said toggle control in an off, position, said toggle control being placed in on" position when either of said tubular members is grasped with and toward either the connection-withthe. springcore member andl the action of-thecoil spring 32. The flexible switch member is .at rest against the lower edges.

oftheopenings3l. As the hands and fingers grip progressively around both-the bars 20' and the switch member. 24 there isa rolling action on the tubular cover. 26 which rotateson the core with said move-..

ment of the fingers grasping the switchmember 24.along with the bars 20. It is apparent that either side of the handle. maybe grasped to op-. erate the-switchrand that the machine cannot the switch unless thebe turned on through handle is grasped.-

The invention is not to be :understood as re.-.

stricted to-the details-setforth since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.-=

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by-Letter Patent isz- 1. In a handle switch,-a housing-support, a,. switchhaving a toggle control mounted in' said housing, handle bars securedto each side ,of. said housing and extending at substantially right angles thereto, said housing-having openings-=5 formed in the sides thereof adjacent said handle bars, a spring core member; secured-to the outer. ends of. said handle bars and-passing through said openings of said housing and connected substantially centrally thereof. to saidtoggle con:- trol, anda flexible tubular cover membermounted on said core member and rotatable thereon for progressive gripping by'the hand of :the; operator outwardly from said supporting means, a trans--- verse flexible switch member-connected centrally to said toggle=control and BXDSlldiIlQOlltWfil'dlY saidflexible member connected tothe outer free from both sides of said toggle supportingmeans,

ends of said handle means, and spring meansfor i normally holding said flexible switch member in a downward position whereby said togglecontrol is in an off position.- a Y 3. 'In a handle switch, a housing-having openings formed in the sides thereof, an electrical switch having a toggle control member with an on" and off position mounted in said housing, handle means extending from the sides ofof said handle means.

4. Anelectric switch for vfloor machines in-.

cluding ahollow central standard leading tothe floor machine, a pair of handle grips projecting from each side of said standard adjacent the upper end thereof, an electric switch mounted within the upper end of said hollow standard and flexible rod-like means extendingin bowed relation to the endsof said handle grips and. spaced centrallytherefrom ina -manner to be. drawn toward said handle grips by the gripping of the operators hand on said grips andsaid bowed rod-like means to close said electric-switch and to automatically open the same when released from the grip of thehand the outer free ends ofsaid flexible means being secured .to the outer free ends of said handle grips.

5. An electric switch operatingmechanism as-..

sociated and spaced from the. hand grip means of a standard of a floor machine andthe like including a pair of hand grips, an electric switch mounted in the hollowhandle centrallybetween said hand grips, a spring wire rod anchored in the outer ends of said hand grips with the cento rotate thereon when gripped together'with either or both of said hand grips-by the. hand of the operator which draws saidspring rod toward said hand grips to close said switch and automatically open-said switch when rod is released.

6. An. electric, switch operating means. for floor machines and the like comprising a hollow stand-- ard having hand grips extending from each-side thereof, a spring rod formed in bowed formation and extending in spaced relation with respect to the inner ends of said hand grips for controlling the movement of the: machine, said -rod.being connectedcentrally thereof toanelectric switch whereby when said rod is squeezed toward said hand .grips on either side-of said standard the electric switch is closed and when the rod isreleased, said switch is opened.

. DANIEL A.-ARONES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,911,444 Fator May 30, 1933* 1,944,157 Forman Jan. 23, 1934 2,211,603 Lang Aug. 13, 1940 said spring 

